With an approachable and engaging style, Guitar Theory For Dummies goes beyond guitar basics, presenting the guidance intermediate to advanced players need to improve their improvisational and compositional skills. Plus, with access to audio tracks and video instruction online you can master the concepts and techniques covered in the book.

Key content coverage includes: pentatonic and major scale patterns; the CAGED chord system, chord progressions, and playing by numbers; roots, keys, and applying scales, plus modes and modal scales; intervals and chord extensions; popular song references and theory applications that help you understand how to play popular music and contemporary guitar styles, and create music of your own.

• This title also features companion audio tracks and video content hosted online at Dummies.com
• The expert instruction and easy-to-digest information provides comprehensive guidance on how to apply music theory concepts to fretted instruments

If you already have a handle on the basics and want to know more about the building blocks and theory behind guitar music, Guitar Theory For Dummies has you covered.

Desi Serna, hailed as a music theory expert by Rolling Stone magazine, is a guitar player and teacher with over 10,000 hours of experience providing private guitar lessons and classes. He owns and operates one of the most popular guitar theory sites on the web, guitar-music-theory.com.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Guitar Theory 5

Chapter 1: Guitar Theory in a Nutshell 7

Chapter 2: Navigating the Fretboard Like a Pro 15

Part II: Working with Chords from the Ground Up 33

Chapter 3: Harmonizing the Major Scale to Form Triads and Chords 35

Chapter 4: Forming Chord Shapes with the CAGED System 41

Chapter 5: Adding Chord Tones and Extensions to Chords 71

Part III: Getting to Know Keys, Modes, and Chord Progressions 91

Chapter 6: Playing Chord Progressions by Numbers 93

Chapter 7: Knowing Music Inside Out: Identifying Tonics, Keys, and Modes 103

Chapter 8: Following Key Changes 129

Chapter 9: Dominant Function and Voice Leading 143

Chapter 10: Filling the Gaps with Passing Chords 153

Part IV: Playing Guitar Scales 165

Chapter 11: Preparing for Riffs and Solos with the Pentatonic Scale 167

Chapter 12: Playing Music’s Primary Melody Maker: The Major Scale 187

Chapter 13: Playing in Modes and Using Modal Scale Patterns 205

Chapter 14: Exploring New Patterns with the Harmonic Minor Scale 225

Chapter 15: Playing the Blues 239

Part V: Part of Tens 251

Chapter 16: Ten Guitar Songs Worth Learning 253

Chapter 17: Ten Sample Scale Applications 265

Chapter 18: Tens Ways to Put Theory into Practice 269

Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 273

Index 277